Doc Rivers reacts to Ben Simmons’ 3-pointer vs. Magic: ‘I could care less’
The Philadelphia 76ers are in a good position as they continue to move forward as a team. At the moment, they are sitting at 4-1 in the Eastern Conference and they have won games ugly while also winning games pretty.
Their latest win can be categorized as pretty as they knocked off the Orlando Magic 116-92 on the road on New Year’s Eve and they also knocked 15 3s. One of them came from Ben Simmons who is notorious for not taking many shots outside of the paint.
Afterward, Simmons brushed it off saying it wasn’t anything serious and on Saturday as the team returned home, coach Doc Rivers had the same reaction.
“I could care less,” Rivers said succinctly. “I just thought it was in the flow of the moment and he shot the ball. I mean, that’s what he’s supposed to do. We didn’t have a parade or anything, I can tell you that. I just want Ben to be Ben and that’s what I keep stressing with him.”
The team can brush off the shot all they want, they’re supposed to do that, but when it comes to their chances, Simmons will need to show off more of that 3-point game to add more spacing to the floor. Maybe a shot such as this one can give him some more confidence to put those shots up more often.
“I don’t know,” Rivers added. “I think every shot by every player gives them some kind of confidence. I can tell you it’s not anything that I really emphasize. No, but for him, I gotta assume it felt good.”
Rivers also acknowledged that Simmons has to shoot in an earlier exchange with ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, but he wants it to come on his terms. Rivers will not push him to shoot the ball more as long as the team is winning and at the moment, that’s what they’re doing.
“You’re way too focus on threes with Ben,” the coach added. “I’m trying to make him a great player. Again I’m just gonna keep saying it, you guys can count all his threes, I’m gonna count all the wins.”
The Sixers return home to host the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday at home.
